Thursday, April 28 2005 11:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought details from the Defence Ministry on the alleged corruption in a Defence deal awarded to South African armament firm Denel during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule.

The Defence Ministry had asked the CBI to probe the deal.

The agency has said it needed a specific complaint along with a notification from the Ministry to conduct the probe so that the agency could examine and ascertain if there was a case for investigation.

The sources said a communique from the agency to the ministry sought all the details about the matter and the nature of the allegation.

When asked for his comments, CBI Director U S Misra said, "We have sought details about the cases." He neither confirmed nor denied if the letter asking the agency to probe the matter has been sent back to the Ministry.

Media reports had alleged that commission was paid by Denel to a British agent to secure the Indian contract for arms and ammos.

The reports had set off a political storm.

This is the second instance in recent times that the CBI has referred back to the Ministry a letter asking it to probe a matter.

Earlier, the agency had sent back 37 cases of Defence deals, including the casket purchase during Kargil conflict, the Ministry had referred to it.

Senior CBI officials had raised several queries about the nature of the cases during a meeting with Ministry officials.